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Two Americans taken from their ship by pirates off the coast of Nigeria last month have been
released, the U.S. State Department said yesterday.

The captain and chief engineer were kidnapped on

Oct. 23 when gunmen attacked the C-Retriever, a 222-foot vessel owned by U.S. marine transport
group Edison Chouest Offshore.

Pirate attacks off Nigeria’s coast have jumped by a third this year as ships passing through
West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a major commodities route, have come under threat from gangs wanting
to snatch cargoes and crews.

Unlike the waters off Somalia on the east coast of Africa, through which ships now speed with
armed guards on board, many vessels have to anchor to do business off West African countries with
little protection.